Body Talk with Luis Alandy

When Desiree del Valle broke up with Luis Alandy, a rumor circulated that she did so because she preferred "female bonding" to male companionship. In fairness to Desiree, she didn’t reconcile with her lesbian partner (whom she "married" in Las Vegas) but has remained fancy-free.

"Whoever is spreading that rumor is cruel. I can say in all honesty that Desiree is every inch a woman," said Luis in defense of his ex-girlfriend with whom he hopes to reconcile after some kinks are ironed out. "Babaing-babae siya. I can attest to that."

Himself loveless, Luis has opted to concentrate on his career now that he has a new soap, the reinvented Gulong ng Palad which premieres tonight on ABS-CBN. The classic TV tearjerker started as a radio drama in 1949, written by the Lina Flor (mother of Noel Trinidad), and revived as a TV soap in 1977, written by Loida Virina (Lina Flor’s younger sister).

The main characters, Luisa and Carding, were first played on radio by Loida herself and Ric Valdez, by Arsenia Francisco and Jose Padilla Jr. in the movie version and then on TV by Marian dela Riva and Ronald Corveau (who fell in love on the set, got married and separated). The boy Peping was played by Romnick Sarmenta.

In the ABS-CBN version, Kristine Hermosa and TJ Trinidad (no relation to the Trinidads but is the nephew of Pasay City Mayor Peewee Trinidad) play Luisa and Carding, with Luis cast as Diego, the city-bred guy determined to destroy Luisa and Carding’s marriage.

"I’ll never do that in real life," Luis said in jest. "I won’t even court a girl who’s going steady with another guy."

Gulong ng Palad is another feather to the cap of Luis who has been proving his versatility in three mediums (movies, television and stage). He has (happily) shed his "wholesome, goody-goody" image by first stripping down to his underwear in the musical revue Penis Talks (in the two stagings, playing the Battered Child Penis) and joining the macho group Barako Boys (with Jay Manalo, Christian Vasquez, Carlo Maceda, Reggie Curley and Paolo Paraiso).

He stands 5’8", weighs 150 lbs., has a 31-inch waistline and wears medium-sized shirt and size 9 shoes.

What sort of diet do you follow?

"I eat very little rice. I avoid oily and fatty foods. I eat mostly fish, vegetables and fruits. My favorite dish is inihaw na bangus."

Do you take three full meals a day?

"Yes, three full meals – with little snacks in-between, usually bread with butter or tuna."

How much liquid do you take every day?

"Lots of water, but no softdrinks or any sugar-heavy drinks (iced tea is out, too)."

How much sleep do you get per night?

"These days, only five hours. But I see to it that I take power naps."

What workout do you do?

"I spend four hours in the gym three times a week. I lift weights and do the treadmill."

What vitamins and/or minerals do you take?

"Vitamin B-complex, vitamin E, vitamin C and powdered protein."

What part of your body is your favorite?

"My arms and shoulders. I’m so proud of them that I wear sando most of the time."

What part of your body is most vulnerable?

"My knees. They get weak when I don’t work out."

And what part of your body do you think needs some improvement?

"My abs."

What part of a woman’s body do you look at first?

"The face and then the butt."

Who’s your favorite fantasy figure?

"Kate Hudson. Very ‘sweetheart’ ang dating."

How do you cope with stress?

"I play basketball. Or I do wall-climbing."

What’s your favorite hideaway?

"I hang out with friends out of town. Last Halloween, we went to Boracay."

What’s your favorite city?

"Davao. The residents are friendly. When we did ASAP Mania there, everybody was nice and accommodating."

How’s your nightlife?

"I rarely go out. I’m not fond of gimik."

Your love life?

"Wala, eh! No girlfriend."

And your sex life?

"Since I’m not dating anybody – zero!"

How do you unwind?

"I go to the gym (Gold’s Gym at Galleria). Or I watch movies with friends. What kind of movies? Any kind, all kinds."

What was the last movie that you saw?

"Just Like Heaven."

What kind of books do you read?

"Well, the latest one that I read was The Power of the Actor by Ivana Chubbuk."

Are you vain like most good-looking guys?

"Not really. But I take good care of myself."

How long does it take you to fix yourself?

"Thirty minutes, from showering to dressing up. I soap my arms first and wash my face before I do my whole body. After drying myself with a towel, I brush my teeth. And then I wear boxer shorts and jeans, put on my socks, followed by my shirt and then my shoes. I don’t wear undershirt."

How often do you see your doctor?

"Once in a blue moon. But I see my dermatologist regularly and my dentist every six months."

What’s your favorite cologne?

"212 Carolina Herrera. And Banana Republic Classic (given to him by Desiree)."

Do you apply anything on your face?

"Proactiv, a facial cleanser."

What’s your favorite sleeping wear?

"Boxer shorts."

What’s the last thing you do before you go to sleep?

"Wash my face, brush my teeth and watch TV."

And the first thing you do when you wake up?

"Turn on the TV set."

Name three women you think have nice bodies.

"Kate Hudson. Eva Longoria, Charlize Theron."

And three men...

"Brad Pitt. Christian Vasquez. Hugh Jackson."

Using only body language, how would you make a woman know that you like/admire her?

"Eye-to-eye contact. Then I smile at her. If she smiles back, I approach her."

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